Local Market Monitor In the News

“Quick Hits: If you're planning to buy a home do it now, because prices are going up for the next few years, especially in Hilton Head and Charleston. Investments in single-family rentals have good potential throughout the area, but best in Myrtle Beach. Mortgages and construction loans will have low risk. Investments in retail and restaurants are good throughout the area but best in Berkeley County SC...”

“You can make good or bad investments in any market because each property is different. Even good analysis can't guarantee success - the math may be right or wrong, luck may be for you or against you, and there's also lots of lying in real estate...”

“The short answer is, Yes, we shipped millions of jobs abroad, a lot of them manufacturing jobs that don't require a college education. In return we got cheaper stuff at Wal-Mart and profits for companies big enough to make things in China and Mexico...”

“Dallas-based HomeVestors, a house-buying franchise, partnered with Cary-based Local Market Monitor to compile its quarterly report on top markets for real estate investing, identifying areas of the country that will have strong rental markets and where home prices are likely to rise over the next few years. The firms looked at which areas had a population growth rate above average, a current job growth rate of at least 2% and a low unemployment rate...”

“Southwest Florida home prices are predicted to rise over the next three years but will become overpriced during that time, a housing research group predicts.

Local Market Monitor's first-quarter forecast projected that average overall home prices in the Naples-Marco Island area will rise 7 percent each year for the next three years, for a total of 21 percent.

That puts it 10th out of 20 metro areas in Florida that the Cary, N.C.-based group tracks. Nationwide, the firm follows 315 markets...”

“According to a recent report, Texas has some of the best residential real estate markets for investors. This is based on an analysis of the 100 largest metro areas in the country. Housing markets in Austin, Dallas and San Antonio were all ranked within the top 10, as far as best places to invest in a home.

The analysis was conducted by Forbes, with help from Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina-based company that monitors home prices and other economic conditions across the country. Florida cities also fared well in the rankings. Cape Coral, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando made the top ten...”

“Looking to make a big investment in 2016? According to Forbes, you're in the right place. In an annual report, the magazine names Austin the No. 7 "best buy city" for 2016. Forbes teamed up with Local Market Monitor, a data company that tracks home prices and economic factors in over 300 housing markets, to determine the top 20 American cities that promise a healthy real estate market to invest in this year.

While these places are great for people looking to put their money into rental properties, it doesn't bode well for first-time homebuyers in the low- and middle-income bracket due to high housing costs. Even so, these cities are where aspiring homeowners have the best opportunity to make an economically sound purchase, according to Forbes.”

“Forbes Magazine released its 2016 list of Best Buy Cities last week, and Fort Lauderdale was named among them as the eighth best housing market in the country. To determine the top 20 housing markets, Forbes partnered with Local Market Monitor, a North-Carolina based data company. The firm considered average home prices and local economic factors, as well as other characteristics that make for good investments, in the 100 largest metropolitan areas...”

“Forbes has published a ranking of the top 20 best cities in the US for investors to buy homes. The survey in association with Local Market Monitor, used data from from the 100 largest Metropolitan Statistical Area and Divisions with populations of at least 600,000 and ranked them with metrics such as job and population growth and anticipated home price appreciation...”

“Buying a house in the Grand Rapids area is considered a good investment. Forbes has teamed up with Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina-based data company, to track home prices and economic factors in more than 300 U.S. housing markets...”

“Following a close look at economic trends and data via a collaboration with North Carolina-based data firm Local Market Monitor, Forbes generated a list of "2016's Best Buy Cities," resulting in a respectable 15th place spot for Charleston, South Carolina, with its rank based on an average home price of $287,220..”

“To find out where investors might get the best bang for their housing buck, and where aspiring homeowners have the best prospects of making an economically sound purchase, we teamed up with Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina-based data company that tracks home prices and economic factors in more than 300 housing markets. The result is our list of 2016′s Best Buy Cities-the top 20 housing markets to invest in this year...”

“Nevertheless, there are pockets where residential real estate values are expected to buck the odds. The Local Market Monitor, a national real estate information service, predicts the following markets will have the strongest growth during the next three years: Dallas (33%); Houston (31%); Austin (30%); Tacoma (29%); and Miami (27%)...”

“The last 10 years were a terrible time for Americans who were thinking about retirement.First, back before the 2008 recession hit, anyone planning to buy a retirement property facedskyrocketing prices and a gut-wrenching choice. If you didn't buy immediately, you might neverbe able to afford that nice place near the shore or in the mountains. On the other hand, forkingover such fistfuls of money would make a big dent in your savings.”

“"For the last few years, investors have been able to find real estate bargains they could turn into rental properties. That period is pretty much over - the inventory of foreclosed homes has been picked fairly clean, at least in the larger markets," said Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor...”

“There are still many opportunities for real estate investors to acquire properties, despite the decrease in inventory of foreclosed homes, according to new quarterly data from HomeVestors, the 'We Buy Ugly Houses' organization, and Local Market Monitor, a real estate forecasting solution...”

“The housing market in Southwest Florida has been red-hot for the past three years. Now it's about to get blistering.

That's the conclusion of a new second-quarter survey by Local Market Monitor that predicts the Naples-Marco Island area will have the highest cumulative gain in one-to-four family home prices - 41 percent - over the next three years of any of the 20 Florida metropolitan statistical areas it tracks.

And it's up considerably from the 29 percent three-year projection the 25-year-old Cary, N.C.-based real estate research firm made in the second quarter of 2014.

"That's a big increase," said Ingo Winzer, president and founder of the firm, which tracks 315 markets nationwide. "You're looking at a real phenomenon..."”

...Helping sustain the recent healthy pace of growth is the strength in housing prices in major cities that don’t include outlying, poorer-performing blue-collar counties and exurbs. For instance, another realty data cruncher, Local Market Monitor, which takes into account an area’s income and employment figures, as well as job and population growth and building-permit activity, sees more boom areas than S&P/Case-Shiller. The company’s founder, Ingo Winzer, says San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, and Denver have all moved to peak valuations, while Honolulu, Nashville, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Portland, and Seattle also are near or at all-time highs...”

“Local Market Monitor screened the 105 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (a geographical designation used by the U.S. Census Bureau that generally includes a core city and its surrounding suburbs), all with populations of at least 550,000. Each of our Best Buy Cities has strong population and jobs growth, and relatively low home prices. In most-but not all-of the cities, homes are still undervalued, by Local Market Monitor's reckoning. (Last year, the average home values in every single city on our Best Buy list were considered under market.) This year four cities have reached the point where prices are a slight bit overheated-Salt Lake City, West Palm Beach, Denver, and Austin-though given their fundamentals, they're still a pretty safe bet...”

“DENVER (CBS4) - A new study says Denver is one of the top places in the country to invest in buying a house. But it's also the costliest inland city for homeowners.

Forbes magazine says Denver is the seventh best city in which to buy a house because it's a safe bet. Denver sees little fluctuation in prices of housing; it continues to either climb consistently or doesn't fall flat...”

“Some of the most robust growth projections for housing appreciation are for the coasts. According to the Local Market Monitor, which tracks housing prices in more than 300 markets in the United States, California had the best performance over the last 20 years and is projected to grow a cumulative 30 percent over the next three years...”

“Despite the rise in home prices, Ingo Winzer, founder of Local Market Monitor, a real estate analyst firm in Cary, North Carolina, maintains investor demand is still strong because of the opportunities that exist. "In a lot of smaller markets there are still lots of great opportunities. Home prices are still below 2007 prices, and rental demand is strong..."”

“According to data compiled by HomeVestors and Local Market Monitor, Las Vegas is among the top 10 housing markets in the country for investing in single family homes. According to Local Market Monitor's president, Ingo Winzer, job growth, particularly in lower paying jobs, population growth and low home prices are factors that have made investments in single homes as rental properties attractive to investors.”

“Fort Worth and Dallas sit in the first and second spots among the top 10 housing markets in the country for investing in single family homes, according to new data compiled by HomeVestors (known as the "We Buy Ugly Houses®" company) and Local Market Monitor. Job growth, particularly in lower paying jobs, population growth and relatively low home prices are factors making investments in single family homes as rental properties a nearly risk-free opportunities in Fort Worth and Dallas as well as several other markets across the country, explained Ingo Winzer, president and founder of Local Market Monitor...”

“The Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale housing market may be ahead of most of the nation in its turnaround, at least according to Forbes, which included the area on its recently-compiled "Best Buy Cities: Where to Invest in Housing in 2014" list. One of 20 metropolitan areas on the list, Phoenix received a positive forecast from investors who used a unique set of metrics to predict market growth. Forbes joined forces with Local Market Monitor, a home price and economic growth tracker which records data from over 300 housing markets nationwide, to create the list... ”

“TO BE SURE, forecasting markets is an unforgiving and somewhat foolhardy task. And experts' three-year projections for home prices vary all over the lot. Ingo Winzer of Local Market Monitor, which tracks more than 300 U.S. metro markets, is looking for price growth of about 7% over each of the next three years, while CoreLogic, the real-estate statistical firm, expects price increases of 4.7% in 2014, 4% in 2015, and 1.9% in 2016....”

“We teamed up with Local Market Monitor, which tracks home prices and local economic factors in more than 300 housing markets, to put together a list of the Best Buy Cities-the top 20 housing markets to invest in for 2014. To come up with this list, Local Market Monitor pulled data for the largest 100 metropolitan statistical areas (a geographical designation used by the U.S. Census) with populations of at least 575,000. From there, the choices were ranked primarily on four factors: population, home prices, and the local jobs economy. Each of our Best Buy Cities have high population and job growth, relatively low home prices, and are still considered under-valued (although in every case except Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Va., home prices have gone up). This makes them fairly low-risk investment opportunities for buyers who are smart and know not to overpay...”

“In certain markets around the country job growth, particularly in lower paying jobs, population growth and relatively low home prices make investments in single-family homes as rental properties a good opportunity, according to fourth quarter housing data compiled by Dallas-based HomeVestors and Local Market Monitor...”

“Recently I talked to Ingo Winzer of Local Market Monitor about putting our heads together on a top ten list for real estate investors. We looked at the markets with favorable economic conditions for investors, throwing out those with very high foreclosure rates or general home prices...”

“HomeVestors of America and Local Market Monitor together released a ranking of the most promising markets for the third quarter of 2013, insisting that "investing in single family homes as rental properties remains a good bet, even as home prices continue to rise...”

“That's how Ingo Winzer, president and founder of Local Market Monitor, sees the future of rental markets for investors, but "investing in rental properties will be an attractive proposition for many years because of the increasing numbers of people who can't afford to be homeowners..."”

“A new study released in the past week by Local Market Monitor shows that the population of the Naples-Marco Island metropolitan statistical area rose 11 percent during the past 12 months, second only to Miami statewide...”

“The analysis took Local Market Monitor's 22 best markets for appreciation and incorporated 10 health factors from RealtyTrac data. The study also looked at the unemployment rates andforeclosure discounts in those areas, and the combination of these data determined the top 12 markets for good health and building real estate wealth...”

“The analysis took Local Market Monitor's 22 best markets for appreciation and incorporated 10 health factors from RealtyTrac data. The study also looked at the unemployment rates and foreclosure discounts in those areas, and the combination of these data determined the top 12 markets for good health and building real estate wealth...”

“Now those homebuyers have a useful tool that tells them where to find the healthiest communities in the U.S.: a ranking of the healthiest places to live in America, courtesy of RealtyTrac, the Irvine, Calif., real estate industry analyst, and Local Market Monitor, a real estate investment analysis firm... ”

“The report, prepared by RealtyTrac and Local Market Monitor, aimed to educate families about the quality of health different metropolitan areas have to offer before making a decision about where to move. The study considered 10 health-related factors like activity rate, obesity and percentage of good air days...”

“While most of the metro areas in North Carolina rank high on the healthy meter in regards to lifestyle and environmental factors, the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area ranks among the top regions in the nation in both public health and wealth in real estate, according to a new report out this week by RealtyTrac and Local Market Monitor...”

“"We are at a stage of the economic cycle where there are more positive than negative factors in front of us," said Ingo Winzer, president at Local Market Monitor. "Despite the somewhat modest national recovery, there are plenty of local markets with excellent economic growth and good potential for the long run. These are places where you'll like to live, not just because investments in real estate or local businesses are more likely to be successful, but because they are dynamic places..."”

“...The forecasts drawn from the Case-Shiller index "give a false sense of what's going on with people's homes," says Ingo Winzer, founder and president of Local Market Montior. "There are problems with the implications of what they're reporting-not with the numbers. In this particular environment, it gives a distorted view of home values...”

“...The report, from the Cary, N.C.-based Local Market Monitor, showed the Cape Coral/Fort Myers area, which includes all of Lee County, is 29.9 percent below what the firm considers its "equilibrium" home price of $235,114. The Naples/Marco Island area, which includes all of Collier County, is 20.7 percent below the equilibrium price of $324,804. The company defines an equilibrium home price as "where home prices would be in the absence of market distortions"...”

“Citing new quarterly data compiled by HomeVestors (known as the “We Buy Ugly Houses®” company) and national real estate forecaster, Local Market Monitor, Hicks said that in the top 100 housing markets in the U.S., only one-Providence, Rhode Island–is categorized as “dangerous” for investors. The HomeVestor/Local Market Monitor Best Market Ratings, issued quarterly, concentrate on factors that affect the demand for housing and therefore affect home prices. The potential for price increases is the investment opportunity, the potential for price decreases or stagnation is the investment risk..”

“Now is a good time to be a real estate investment rookie, says Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor. Look for strong population growth and low unemployment, which spur rental demand. "There are markets with a nice margin of safety," he says, including these 10...”

“Does it makes as much sense to own a sliver of 10,000 homes as it does to own just one?

Owning and renting out a home can, in theory, exceed the returns on many different types of yield-focused investments. The average metropolitan-area residential property nationally should generate a risk-adjusted annual yield-known as the capitalization rate, or "cap rate"-of 5.4%, according to housing research firm Local Market Monitor...”

“"Despite the fact that home sales and home prices are increasing on average across the country, we are still seeing weaknesses in some markets," said Ingo Winzer, president and founder of Local Market Monitor, a real estate investment company. "Sometimes weaknesses can signal opportunity for real estate investors, but not in the markets we ranked as 'dangerous.' In those markets, the risk far outweighs any opportunity..."”

“Thirty-eight real estate markets have been tagged as "dangerous" for investors looking to make money on buying homes as rental properties in new quarterly data compiled by HomeVestors of America (known as the "We Buy Ugly Houses®" company) and Local Market Monitor...”

“However, the most stable gains were in the energy-rich states of Texas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Colorado. "Not only have those [buyers] already seen an increase in the value of their property, high local job growth and low unemployment almost guarantee that values will increase steadily for years to come," says Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor...”

“"Nationally we have been hearing that the housing recovery is under way and prices are rising, but there are very few places where that's actually true," says Ingo Winzer, founder and president of Local Market Monitor, a Cary,N.C.-based real estate research company. Of the 316 housing markets Local Market Monitor tracks, only 120 welcomed positive price appreciation this year (and most, by a tiny 1-2%). "There are a lot [of places] that are still very near the bottom and some where prices are still falling...."”

“MSN asked real-estate consulting firm Local Market Monitor to compile a list of the five most improved and five least improved housing markets. The following cities showed the most or least gains in home values over the past two years. LMM also pegged the future growth in these winning and losing areas for the next three years...”

“In theory, at least, there are renters aplenty. But not all geographical markets are faring alike in housing's gradual recovery, according to Local Market Monitor, a real estate data firm based in Cambridge, Mass., that says property investors who are looking for locales might want to think small - or at least smaller. Company President Ingo Winzer says that although there are certainly opportunities for investors within big metros, cities with populations of 200,000 to 500,000 may have some things going for them that make them attractive for landlords...”

“"Many of these markets not only have unemployment rates well below the national average, but they show strong job growth and housing prices have bottomed out," said Ingo Winzer, president and founder of Local Market Monitor, a real-estate forecasting firm, in a statement...”

“ Few observers have followed home-price trends with the assiduity of Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor. He started tracking them two decades ago, when he worked in the finance department of a now-defunct mortgage insurer...”

“"We're at a point in the real estate cycle where investors and homeowners no longer have to fear falling home prices, though these may still drop by 5 or 6 percent in a few markets," according to Ingo Winzer, president of real-estate data firm Local Market Monitor...”

“Of the 316 markets Local Market Monitor reviewed, Las Vegas ranked number one based on estimated returns on investment for single-family rental properties. Cities were ranked by estimated future returns investors can expect when they buy single-family homes and rent them out. According to Local Market Monitor's data, for example, investors in Las Vegas will have a 5.6 percentage-point higher return on a rental property than the national average of 5%... ”

“If you're managing property yourself, you'll need to stick close to home. But "you don't want to be in just any market," cautions Ingo Winzer, founder of Local Market Monitor, a Cary, N.C. firm that tracks housing data for 315 metro markets. The best bets: areas where prices appear to have bottomed and both jobs and population are growing...”

“Ingo Winzer, Local Market Monitor's president, says three basic factors make this a good time to accumulate rentals in select markets. They are very low home prices, an improving employment picture and "fairly good increases in rents in some markets" due to rising income and inflation...”

“Although good news is in short supply, there's a tinge of optimism surfacing on U.S. real estate. Local Market Monitor reported recently that its housing demand index is in expansion status, compared with 64 months of contraction that began in 2006. The strongest markets generally are experiencing robust job growth, which typically is one of the linchpins of any strong housing market...”

“The Phoenix area was the eighth-best market in which to invest in rental homes during the first quarter, according to a new quarterly study conducted by home-investment firm HomeVestors of America Inc. and Local Market Monitor, a research firm...”

“The expected investment return in each market is compared with the national average expected investment return (5.2 percent) to place markets on the list, according to study authors HomeVestors of America, Inc., (the "We Buy Ugly Houses" company) and real estate market intelligence company Local Market Monitor, Inc...”

“Of 100 national markets, their Home Vestors-Local Market Monitor's "Best Markets to Invest in Rental Property" ranking rates Louisville as the 67th-best market nationally, and Lexington as the 75th. The risk/return premium for Louisville is 5.3 percent, 0.1 percentage point higher than the national average. The premium for Lexington is 5.1 percent...”

“The state had 12 markets on the HomeVestors of America and Local Market Monitor first-quarter list of best places for investors interested in buying rentals. Florida had nine markets on the list; Texas had seven markets on the list, according to a news release...”

“While Central Florida certainly has been hit hard, we aren't the worst in the nation, or even in Florida. Only three Florida cities made Local Market Monitor's list of 13 cities to suffer substantially large drops in home prices this year, with more projected through the next 12 months.
#4 - West Palm Beach #6 - Jacksonville #8 - Orlando-Kissimee-Sanford area These projections, taking into account job growth, population growth, sales and rental prices.
”

“Looking ahead, Local Market Monitor's data indicates that house values in San Jose have a good outlook over the next few years at least "The San Jose recovery is clearly connected to the high-tech sector, which is very much a boom-and-bust situation," said Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor. "During the recession, 30,000 tech jobs were lost, but 16,000 have been regained since 2009. These are high-paying jobs that affect the housing market...”

“According to the news source, which cited Local Market Monitor information, property data indicates that the housing market in McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas, could see major improvement during the year. A spike in population growth, only a slight depreciation in home values and healthy job prospects are all factors expected to help the area's marketplace stage a comeback...”

“Unlike traditional forecasts that look a year into the future, Local Market Monitor, a firm that analyzes markets for the banking industry, also puts together a three-year forecast. What follows are the highlights of its longer-term forecast: The top five and bottom five housing markets for the three years ahead, taken from a ranking of the largest 100 markets it covers...”

“Unlike traditional forecasts that look a year into the future, Local Market Monitor, a firm that analyzes markets for the banking industry, also puts together a three-year forecast. What follows are the highlights of its longer-term forecast: The top five and bottom five housing markets for the three years ahead, taken from a ranking of the largest 100 markets it covers...”

“Housing will still be hurting, but could be jump-started. While Ingo Winzer's National Economic Outlook (www.localmarketmonitor.com/) is generally optimistic, he doesn't see a U.S. housing rebound. "The evidence is now pretty clear that a sustained economic recovery is underway, although housing markets won't feel much benefit until next year," Winzer writes. He sees rough patches where there's poor local economic health in Atlanta, North New Jersey, Fresno, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Philadelphia. This could change if the White House, the Fed and banks allow widespread refinancings or principal writedowns for underwater homeowners or those in foreclosure. Mortgage rates are still at generational lows....”

“In some markets with high foreclosure saturation rates, foreclosure inventories will cause temporarily price swings as inventories rise and fall, but even in these cities, in the long run, local economies will be the key. That's how Ingo Winzer sees the year ahead. In 1990 Winzer created Local Market Monitor because there wasn't anything like it and developed of the National Review of Real Estate Markets...”

“The folks at Local Market Monitor, a Carey, N.C.-based real estate research firm, helped us compile this list, sorting through housing and economic data for the 100 most populous cities and their surrounding suburbs, defined as Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Metropolitan Divisions by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget...”

“The folks at Local Market Monitor, a real-estate research company in Cary, N.C., compiled a list of the cities that suffered relatively big home price hits in 2011, with more projected through the next 12 months. The researchers sifted through market data for more than 300 metropolitan statistical areas and metropolitan divisions, as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The company, which releases quarterly housing market reports, crunched home prices from October 2010 through September 2011 and calculated price projections through September of next year. For its projections, Local Market Monitor took into account job growth and unemployment rates, population growth, sales and rental prices, and something called "equilibrium home price," which is a gauge of where the average home price should realistically lie based on economic data, versus where it actually is...”

“As more people move from owning to renting, apartment vacancy rates have fallen fast, from 8 percent in 2009 to 5.6 percent in third quarter 2011. That's pushed up rents in all markets by 2.5 percent, including apartments and single-family homes, to an average of $846 nationwide, according to Local Market Monitor, a home price forecaster. For a two-bedroom dwelling, the average rent was at $1,020 in June 2011...”

“Every year we like to gaze into the crystal ball and predict which markets will prove best for buyers. To make this prediction more accurate, MSN Real Estate asked forecasting firm Local Market Monitor which five housing markets it would pick as the most promising in the year ahead and why; by "most promising," we mean those that will suffer the smallest slide...”

“As home values have fallen (in the Daytona Beach area), more than other places, and rents have risen slightly, investors can get a higher rate of return, something like 9.7 percent compared to the national average of 5.4 percent," said Carolyn Beggs, the chief operating officer for Local Market Monitor, based in Cary, N.C.. "The key, and the risk, is getting tenants..."”

“We think Florida is one of most interesting states in terms of rental property opportunities," Ingo Winzer, president and founder of Local Market Monitor in Cary, N.C., said in a statement. "That's because home prices haven't bottomed out, and rents will eventually be supported by renewed population growth..."”

“Local economies, especially jobs, will drive local demand. Over the next three years, Local Market Monitor expects rents to rise 18 percent in Houston, 15 percent in Grand Rapids, 25 percent in Rochester, 16 percent in Dallas and 19 percent in Tulsa...”

“With the outlook for home sales still dark, investors - as well as frustrated home sellers - are focusing on a bright spot: more demand to rent single-family homes. Indeed, market forecaster Local Market Monitor and cash homebuyer HomeVestors of America recently listed metro areas that are rental "sweet spots" where rental charges for are rising even as home prices fall...”

“The folks at Local Market Monitor, a Cary, N.C.-based real-estate research company, compiled a list of the cities that suffered relatively big home price hits this year with more projected through the next 12 months. LMM sifted through market data for more than 300 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) and Metropolitan Divisions (MSADs), as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The company, which releases quarterly housing market reports, crunched home prices from October 2010 through September 2011 and calculated price projections through September of next year. For its projections, LMM took into account job growth and unemployment rates, population growth, sales and rental prices, and something called "Equilibrium Home Price," which is a gauge of where the average home price should realistically lie based on economic data versus where it actually is...”

“...However, some of the safest bets were made in areas where prices are not only low relative to rents, but where the economy also is on the upswing, including Bakersfield, Calif.; Tampa, Fla.; Phoenix; Boise, Idaho; and Dallas, according to forecasting firm Local Market Monitor...”

“Ingo Winzer, founder and president of Local Market Monitor, says two things are driving the dive in Sunshine State markets: too much inventory and not enough jobs. Construction backstopped a sizeable chunk of Florida's local economies, as developers built spec homes for an anticipated deluge of Baby Boomer snowbirds that, thanks to the current economy, have yet to retire. "First, a lot of homes were built, maybe more than should have been built, and second, while population growth in Florida will eventually sop up those properties, right now there's no work so we have large numbers of homes sitting empty...causing prices to fall," he says...”

“Markets in areas that have been battered by foreclosures, such as Las Vegas and Phoenix, remain unstable. They might have low prices, but they also are suffering from high unemployment. That could leave aspiring landlords with empty homes, which then could fall even further in value, according to Local Market Monitor President Ingo Winzer...”

“"If the next couple of months are as good, we'll see much better GDP figures in 2012," notes Ingo Winzer, president of the Local Market Monitor. "After all, without inventory cuts the economy would have grown at a 3.5 percent rate in the third quarter. And with the inventory/sales ratio at an historic low, sales will quickly translate into new orders..."”

“Some metros that economists had pegged for a turnaround unexpectedly wilted at the end of the prime selling season. Which areas bucked forecasters' expectations and faltered? Local Market Monitor tagged these markets as this year's surprising fumbles...”

“Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor, a real estate information service, says he is seeing indications that lower consumer debt and increased spending may lead to an uptick. "After 28 straight months of pulling back on the reins, consumers have finally found a level of debt that feels good enough to allow more spending to flow," Winzer surmises...”

“The rankings by HomeVestors of America Inc., of Dallas, Texas, and Local Market Monitor Inc., of Cary, N.C., are intended to help inform real estate investors of current rental property investment opportunities based on their potential future relative returns. The ranking is updated quarterly...”

“But real estate has one advantage that all the diving equities and downgraded Treasurys in the world will never have: the fact that in housing, all things are local. While most towns and cities on the upswing aren't exactly luxurious, prices in 15 percent of the 315 metro areas tracked by Local Market Monitor, a real estate data provider, have actually increased in the past year...”

“In general, though, average returns after expenses are far less, more like 5% to 6% of the property value, says Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor, a real-estate forecasting firm. But that still is well above what many other investments yield...”

“However, if employment continues to solidify and the market continues its slow but shaky recovery, the U.S. housing market could hit bottom by the end of next year and start slowly inching up again in 2013, says Ingo Winzer, president of forecasting firm Local Market Monitor. Some markets in Texas, Southern California and parts of the Midwest could emerge more quickly. The U.S. debt downgrade, however, could further slow the recovery in markets with a high number of public-sector jobs, such as Sacramento, Calif., and Austin, Texas, Winzer says...”

“After leading the nation in plunge off the price cliff, the Central Valley housing market may be at its ebb at long last, says Local Market Monitor Inc., which tries to forecast the best places to buy rental property...”

“MSN Real Estate and Local Market Monitor selected 10 midsize to large cities with the best job prospects and most affordable mortgage payments - a combination that doesn't usually go hand in hand, says Ingo Winzer, LMM president...”

“According to a report from HomeVestors and Local Market Monitor, falling home prices and growing jobs in the service sector have contributed to the area being ranked number six, behind such markets as Las Vegas and Detroit...”

“Wichita is generally a great landlording market, according to a new study by Local Market Monitor, a national market research firm, and HomeVestors. Based on the projected cost of housing vs. the price of rents in three years, the study showed Wichita landlords will see a 25 percent premium over the national average over the next three years. "What that shows is that rents as a percent of the purchase price is significantly stronger than the national average," said Carolyn Beggs, of Local Market Monitor...”

“Nowhere are potential profits better than in Las Vegas, according to a new survey by Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina-based firm that specializes in forecasting real estate prices. Local Market Monitor put together the survey for HomeVestors, a franchise real estate investing company. The survey ranked 316 markets by estimated returns on investment in single-family home rental properties...

“HomeVestors of America Inc., which does business under the name We Buy Ugly Homes, and Local Market Monitor ranked Phoenix as the seventh-best market for investing in rental properties, the Phoenix Business Journal reported...”

“The study by HomeVestors of America, a property-investment firm, and Local Market Monitor, a real-estate data firm, looked at current single-family home values and estimated the return on investment based on a three-year forecast assuming 2 percent annual economic growth...”

“When it comes to the best cities to invest in rental property, Nashville ranks in the bottom half of the pack. Nashville's ranking at No. 61 in a new list by HomeVestors of America and Local Market Monitor can be viewed as a sign of how the area's housing market has fared relatively well compared to other cities...”

“Syracuse ranked 14th on a new list of best markets for investing in rental properties. HomeVestors of America, Inc. and Local Market Monitor released the list Monday. The rankings will be updated quarterly. The list aims to forecast the expected performance of rental real estate properties, specifically single-family homes maintained for rent...”

“Housing markets that have seen the biggest plunges on home values have topped a new ranking of the best markets for rental-property investors. Las Vegas, where home prices are down by more than 50% from their market peak, offers the best returns on homes maintained as rental properties, according to the report from HomeVestors of America, a property-investment firm, and Local Market Monitor, a real-estate data firm...”

“HomeVestors of America and Local Market Monitor released its list of best markets to invest in rental property, and Las Vegas came out on top. HomeVestors is a real-estate investment company; Local Market Monitor is a forecaster of real-estate markets...”

“We've long known Fort Wayne offers almost incomparably low housing prices. The job market isn't always healthy, but the city has diversified much since the days when International Harvester and General Electric dominated the private workforce. And post-secondary educational opportunities abound...”

“MSN Real Estate and Local Market Monitor selected 10 midsize to large cities with the best job prospects and most affordable mortgage payments - a combination that doesn't usually go hand in hand, says Ingo Winzer, LMM president...”

“MSN Real Estate and Local Market Monitor selected 10 midsize to large cities with the best job prospects and most affordable mortgage payments - a combination that doesn't usually go hand in hand, says Ingo Winzer, LMM President...”

“The average home price in the San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos metropolitan statistical area in the first quarter was about $324,200, according Local Market Monitor's latest report, while the average home price in San Francisco was $623,200 and the average home price in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale was $352,200. These home prices are down 1%, up 7%, and up 15%, respectively, from each metro's equilibrium price...”

“A stagnant economy and a huge number of distressed properties have wreaked havoc on U.S. home prices. Some markets, however, are taking a much larger hit than others, due to overbuilding, speculation, loose lending and pumped-up values. Nowhere was that more evident than Modesto, Calif., where prices have dropped 56% from their peak in the first quarter of 2006.

But Modesto had plenty of bad company, according to Local Market Monitor. Here are the metro areas with the biggest drops in home prices since the fourth quarter of 2009 and a generally bleak outlook for the year ahead...”

“Residents in these cities are breathing a sigh of relief, as home values begin to appreciate again. But these aren't double-digit gains. Those days are long gone, economists say...(rankings provided by Local Market Monitor)”

“According to Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina-based research company that tracks employment and housing trends in major metro areas, Chattanooga housing prices are projected to rise an average of 1 percent this year, 3 percent next year and another 2 percent in 2012...”

“Separately, an initial conversation we had today with Local Market Monitor reinforced the notion that some markets favored by retiring baby boomers are on the mend. Local Market Monitor compiles and analyzes census data for 315 metro markets in the U.S. and, based on the data, makes predictions about residential housing price appreciations...”

“Carolyn Beggs, spokesperson for Cary, N.C.-based Local Market Monitor, which provides home price forecasts for banks, mortgage insurers, real estate investors, and homebuilders, said the Greenville market is one that will probably see between a zero to three percent increase in home values in the next 12, 24, and 36 months...”

“The home price forecasting firm Local Market Monitor (LMM), Cary, North Carolina, released its first-quarter Home Price Forecast on March 1 and reported that several major housing markets still have not hit bottom... ”

“These (resources) can help answer such questions as, 'Should I rent or buy?' 'Has the market hit bottom?' 'How much value has my local market gained or lost?' and, 'Is there a high potential for future home price declines?'" says Ingo Winzer, president of forecasting firm Local Market Monitor...”

“According to the Local Market Monitor,which tracks real estate trends, there's been strong job growth in Bethesda, Dallas, Raleigh, Washington, Milwaukee, San Jose and Houston. Most of these cities weren't hit particularly hard by the bubble. Job growth typically translates into stronger home prices. The publication forecasts a two percent to four percent housing-price increase in Bethesda, for example...”

“Although the slight increase of nationwide jobs in 2010 may have some believing there is light at the end of the tunnel, the president of Local Market Monitor said this might not directly indicate an end to the real estate market recession...”

“...we used two housing-centric data points in our methodology. Local Market Monitor a Cary, N.C.-based real estate research firm, provided us with their 12-month home price outlooks for these metros...”

“We asked the folks at Local Market Monitor to give us their predictions for five of the top havens for buyers - places with a population of more than 200,000 where the immediate outlook is calm and modestly optimistic over the next two years...”

“The national business magazine estimated home prices in Volusia will fall 11 percent this year, ranking it first in price decline among the 315 metro areas it tracks, using data compiled by Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina research firm...”

“Local Market Monitor Inc., a real-estate research company based in Cary, N.C., that ranks local housing markets for banks, investors and builders, combines the best of both. It takes repeat-sales prices compiled by the Federal Housing Finance Agency across 315 housing markets and compares them with the "equilibrium prices" that can be sustained by local economic conditions. Then it ranks markets accordingly...”

“Unlike many backward-looking economic statistics, jobs data are only about a month old and can "clearly show the direction of the local economy," says Carolyn Beggs, chief operating officer of real-estate data provider Local Market Monitor Inc...”

“The finance publication predicts that the median home price in San Diego will rise 2 percent in the next 12 months and through the next three years, based on findings from Local Market Monitor, a research company that analyzed data from real estate markets throughout the U.S...”

“Forbes enlisted the help of Local Market Monitor (LMM) to track 315 American real estate markets. "They then analyzed key economic factors that directly affect housing markets: unemployment and job growth rates, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics..."”

“Las Vegas also has the honour of being one of the worst housing values as ascertained by a North Carolina-based company by the name of Local Market Monitor. Their analysis includes many factors including unemployment and job growth rates and the number of housing permits in the market...”

“Poor Florida. The state that is home to Disney World, key lime pie and the Daytona 500 hasn't had much to crow about when it comes to real estate in recent years. Sorry to break it to Sunshine Staters, but they shouldn't be expecting a rebound anytime soon either. That's according to Local Market Monitor (LMM), a Cary, N.C.-based real estate research firm that crunched the numbers for our list of the best and worst cities for home values in 2011...”

“Home values in many of Florida's largest cities may continue to fall in 2011, despite years of declining real estate prices across the state, according to research conducted by Local Market Monitor (LMM) and published by Forbes..”

“According to Local Market Monitor, a real estate forecasting and risk assessment firm headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, there are scores of metro areas where prices have over-corrected to the point that now, housing in these markets is considered to be 'undervalued'... ”

“Pleasant temperatures, a steady economy and friendly residents are benefits of urban Charleston for people wrapping up their careers. According to a new survey, Charleston ranks as fourth best spot for real estate investment among retirees. Local Market Monitor and its president Ingo Winzer compiled the list recently...”

“Can a housing market simultaneously be the most undervalued in the nation and one of the worst housing buys? It can if it's Las Vegas. Sin City recently drew a rating of "Frankly Dangerous" -- the worst possible -- from Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina-based firm that provides investors with analysis on local conditions. The only other city to get that kind of thrashing was Orlando, FL...”

“Nationally, the great majority of housing markets are now fairly valued, according to Local Market Monitor. Eight markets are overpriced, and 15 are underpriced. That contrasts with the boom years: In mid-2006, 37 of the biggest markets were overpriced, six under and 57 fairly valued...”

“What are the most overvalued and undervalued housing markets in the country? The Local Market Monitor recently released a list for investors analyzing buying conditions for real estate markets in the United States...”

“After seeing the average home price value in the Orlando area dip from almost $300,000 in 2007 to currently around $180,000, according to the group Local Market Monitor, most people figured home prices had hit rock bottom...”

“MSN Real Estate ranked Lexington No. 5 on its list of Best Real Estate Market Buys. The city was listed with San Diego, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Calif.; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Okla.; and Cincinnati as areas where home buyers will find the best prospects for 2011. Local Market Monitor (LMM) predicted home prices in Lexington will decline about 1 percent from the average actual price here of $183,084...”

“With Florida and Arizona home markets still tanking, where should warm-weather seekers turn for their retirement home? Some of the best spots for investment these days are in the South, says Local Market Monitor President Ingo Winzer...”

“Stop thinking of homes as investments. If you need comfort and shelter, spend as much money as you can without getting into perilous debt. But don't think that homes are investments. Home prices have a long way to go before we see a real rebound. They may have bottomed out in Southern California, San Francisco, Washington, D.C. , Minneapolis, Honolulu and Boston, reports the Local Market Monitor...”

“Home prices in many U.S. markets hit bottom in the third quarter, but some large metropolitan areas, particularly in Florida, are still in trouble, according to data from Local Market Monitor. The real estate analytics company said home price data...”

“Local Market Monitor, a real estate forecasting group, ranked the five best markets for prospective home buyers in 2011, and two cities in Oklahoma were near the top of the list. Oklahoma City was number two, followed by Tulsa at number three. The top market for buyers was San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos area in California...”

“Welcome to MSN Real Estate's inaugural Buying Advice column. Each month, we'll bring you the news and insight you need to help you make that life-altering home purchase with confidence... We asked the folks at Local Market Monitor to share their predictions for the five best and worst markets for those who are ready to buy now. LMM analyzes more than 300 housing markets and identifies markets that are "suitable for investment" or "dangerous."”

“That's because upticks in real-estate prices usually lag behind improvements in the overall economy, says Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor, who forecasts a 1% decline in prices in the next year. Right now company profits may be rising, but companies aren't spending their cash on hiring and salary increases...”

“Real estate has undergone an epic crash. Here's how savvy entrepreneurs are picking up the pieces.But keep in mind the old adage that real estate is about location, location, location. As such, the housing prospects for your own hometown are uniquely local. Local Market Monitor founder Ingo Winzer says that we've reached a solid bottom in places like southern California, San Francisco, ...”

“Among the nation's 315 biggest markets, Chattanooga is among the top 20 percent for residential real estate investment opportunities, according to the Local Market Monitor report on real estate conditions in most U.S. metro areas...”

“Forbes' Francesca Levy placed the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area atop her list of "The Worst Cities for Real Estate Investing" in a recent blog post, telling readers they should not buy a home here "if you're interested in selling it at a profit any time soon."”

“Looking for a conservative residential real estate market in which to invest? Local Market Monitor Inc., a 20-year-old, Cary, NC research and consulting firm, has updated its previous rankings and posted the 10 best and worst markets...”

“Local Market Monitor selected markets with a population of at least 40,000 and ranked them based a combination of jobs forecasts, historic population growth and home-price changes, based on data through September 30. The Reno, Nev. and Orlando, Fla. metros follow Lakeland, and most of the list is populated by Sand State cities...”

“Tulsa, Okla., Albany, N.Y. and San Diego, Calif. have shot onto the list of the 10 best markets for conservative residential real-estate investors, according to an updated report by Local Market Monitor, Inc...”

“The Nashville-Murfreesboro metropolitan area was cited by Forbes.com, the online site for the national business magazine, as No. 4 among the top 10 markets nationally that are most likely to see a rise in home prices...”

“Our list, compiled by Cary, N.C. real estate research firm Local Market Monitor, wasn't looking at the markets that were currently the healthiest, but rather which had the greatest chance for price appreciation...”

“But in a housing market this volatile, it can be hard to tell when low sales prices on property indicate a market that has bottomed or one with little hope of a turnaround any time soon. We asked Cary, N.C.-based Local Market Monitor (LMM), a real estate research firm, to identify the markets that were the best bet for residential real estate investing...”

“Analyzing 315 real estate markets across the country, Cary, North Carolina-based Local Market Monitor recently devised its first "Investment Suitability Ratings" based on factors like long-term population growth, local income, relative job growth and the concentration of jobs in comparatively volatile industries like construction and finance....”

“Five metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in Florida could see at least a 10% drop in home prices over the next 12 months, according to Local Market Monitor, which tracks real estate data in more than 300 metro markets....”

“If you are looking for a road map showing the best and worst cities in which to invest right now in the United States, you might glance at what Local Market Monitor Inc. of Cary, N.C. has come up with...”

“Local Market Monitor Inc., a Cary, N.C., firm that analyzes real-estate trends for lenders, builders and investors, compiled its first Investor Suitability Report using economic data through July 31 for 315 U.S. markets. The firm is best known for its housing-market forecasts, which use "equilibrium" home prices: what home values should be in relation to incomes, job growth and population. In its new report, it uses similar data to rank communities by their investment prospects, focusing on single-family homes...”

“
If you're hoping to pick up a housing bargain, a new report that ranks the best and worst markets for conservative residential real estate investors might interest you. Durham, N.C., Indianapolis and Huntsville, Ala., are some of the best locales currently, according to the first Investor Suitability Report by Local Market Monitor...

“...Carolyn Beggs, chief operating officer of Local Market Monitor, which analyzes conditions in over 100 U.S. markets and uses economic data like home values, employment growth and population growth to assess real estate market risk, says the Cary/Raleigh real estate market is poised to do well compared to the rest of the nation...”

“"Some housing markets are close to rock bottom, and investors with a good tolerance for risk should be looking for opportunities to invest," said Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor. "Conservative real estate investors should probably wait a bit longer until the economy becomes a little more stable."”

“...Finally, since a cheap home isn't much of a bargain if it's hemorrhaging value, we factored in how much home prices were expected to rise or fall over the next three years, using data from Local Market Monitor, a Cary, N.C.-based real estate research firm...”

“To put together our list of housing markets expected to drop, Local Market Monitor measured 315 Metropolitan Statistical Areas and selected the ones where it anticipated average home prices would fall most in the next 12 months...”

“Today, buying a home in Atlantic City is a gamble. Of 315 cities measured by Local Market Monitor, a Cary, N.C.-based real estate research firm, the Atlantic City metro is expected to experience the largest drop in home value over the next 12 months...”

“"...During a recession internal migration within the U.S. drops sharply," says Ingo Wizner, president of Local Market Monitor, noting that relocating becomes less financially feasible in hard times."Home prices in these markets are likely to fall for several years, but will then recover as above-average population growth resumes..."”

“To find the country's cities in free fall, we rated its 40 largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) on six metrics. We ranked each MSA on the percent its median home price has fallen since its individual peak, using data provided by Local Market Monitor, a housing market data tracker.”

“Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor, a Cary research company that tracks home values across the U.S., says that North Carolina markets are among the markets likely to have solid growth and increases in home prices going forward. "The market was doing well before the recession and will continue to do well as we move out of the recession," he says.”

“Merced was listed as a small housing market expected to perform the best this year in a forecast created by Local Market Monitor. The company offers investors local market risk intelligence based on how high they think local housing prices will climb...”

“In December, the Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina-based real estate research firm, named the county seat of Erie County one of the top 10 large housing markets because of its stability and growth potential...”

“Folks in Pittsburgh, San Antonio and Wichita, Kan., couldn't tell you what it felt like when the bubble burst. Prices in those markets haven't declined since 2005, and are slowly inching up, according to Local Market Monitor. "You do have more options if you have equity earned in your home," says Carolyn Beggs, chief operating officer of Local Market Monitor...”

“...homes at the median level in Merced have lost 62 percent of their value from the second quarter of 2006, when they peaked at $336,743, the biggest drop anywhere in the country, according to data provided to Forbes by Local Market Monitor, a Cary, N.C.-based real estate research firm...”

“There's bad news and good news coming out of the housing market. Forbes Magazine released study results by Local Market Monitor that showed the cities that lost the most value are concentrated in some areas of California, Florida, Nevada, and the Northeast...”

“Three Central Florida areas landed on a Forbes top 10 list of cities throughout the nation with the highest declines in residential property values since the real estate market hit its highs in those respective communities....Forbes compiled the report based on data from real estate research firm Local Market Monitor.”

“For that reason, a five-county region in the Rochester area is in the top 20 largest housing markets expected to perform the best next year a the national level, according to a report recently released by Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina-based real estate forecasting company...”

“A region-by-region look at the metros with the highest peak-to-present price drops. To find the cities where home values fell the most, we began with the 315 Metropolitan Statistical Areas that Local Market Monitors tracks...”

“Local Market Monitor predicts that Tulsa area home prices will drop by 1 percent in 2010, compared with a national average of 4.9 percent. Based on current employment levels and average incomes, the listing indicates that home prices here are in balance, rather than being under- or over-valued...”

“Home prices in the Triangle will decline by 3 percent over the next 12 months above and beyond the 3 percent drop in the average home value since the market’s peak in fourth quarter 2008, according to a new Home Price Forecast report from Cary-based Local Market Monitor...”

“...Analysts at Local Market Monitor named Wichita Falls as one of the top markets with the best expected performance in home price. This study identifies markets where home prices will continue to drop as well as stable markets with opportunities for growth... ”

“It's been about a year since the housing bubble burst. And Nebraska was able to shelter itself from the worst of the storm. But how is the state doing now, a year later? Today a report suggests the Omaha market will be one of the best-performing markets in the country... ”

“Cary, N.C.-based Local Market Monitor, a real estate forecasting and market predicting firm, released its third quarter Home Price Forecast on Sept. 9, which predicts local market behavior for more than 300 U.S. markets for the coming 12-month period. The forecast identifies markets where home prices will continue to drop as well as stable markets with opportunities for growth.”

“Ouachita Parish's housing market could continue to outperform most of the rest of the nation during the next 12 months, according to a new report from Local Market Monitor, which produces its Home Price Forecast for more than 300 cities...”

“Home prices may decline an average of 5% across the country in 2010. Some regional markets hit hardest by the recession will experience additional double-digit declines while others will increase, according to real estate forecaster Local Market Monitor...”

“Home prices in the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area are expected to be strong over the next 12 months, according to the Third Quarter Home Price Forecast from real estate forecaster Local Market Monitor...
”

“Despite continued sale declines, a new forecasts predicts the Dallas area will be one of the top home markets in the country this year. Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Wichita Falls are also on the list of what are expected to be the 10 top-performing housing markets, according to a report released Wednesday by analysts at Local Market Monitor...
”

“Just as California has dominated the rankings of worst-performing housing markets, Texas appears to run away with the honors for best-performing markets. On a ranking of the 10 largest housing markets with the best-expected performance released in June by Local Market Monitor, Cary, North Carolina, Texas markets took five of the 10 spots...
”

“A report published by Local Market Monitor, Inc. predicts the St. Louis metro area will see real estate values decline 2% in the coming 12 months. This projection does not sound bad and would support the possibility that the market is leveling off and perhaps we have seen the bottom...
”

“...And Local Market Monitor, which forecasts prices in 315 markets, shows stable or rising (by single digit) prices in 50 of those markets in 2010. "If you add up all the markets where we forecast a double-digit decline in home prices in the next year, they hold about 25 percent of the U.S. population," notes Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor. "Consumers are running out of credit," he says. "There is a lot of pain associated with foreclosures, and banks will continue to hurt."
”

“The good news is that a real estate forecast put Oklahoma City and Tulsa among the housing markets with the "best expected performance” over the next year. The so-so news is that means home prices aren’t expected to drop, according to Local Market Monitor in Cary, N.C., which released its latest Home Price Index for more than 300 markets this week.... ”

“...Separately, Local Market Monitor of Cary, N.C., issued its latest Home Price Forecast and Las Vegas ranked on the negative end of that study, which covers more than 300 U.S. markets. The forecast predicts local market behavior over the next 12 months...”

“When the recovery in housing finally comes, some housing markets will rebound sooner than others. Real estate forecasting service Local Market Monitor, which covers the nation’s 300 largest markets, has identified 13 markets where it predicts home prices will rise in the coming months and 11 markets where it expects home prices will continue to decline significantly...
”

“Home prices in the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area are expected to be among the strongest in the nation over the next 12 months, according to the latest Home Price Forecast from real estate forecaster Local Market Monitor...
”

“From the “It’s Better to Be Living in Western New York than Las Vegas” file: Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse are expected to be among the best housing markets in the nation over the next 12 months, according to a new forecast by Local Market Monitor, a real estate market analysis firm...”

“The Dallas area is getting high marks in another national housing forecast. Dallas ranks third nationally among metro areas expected to have the best home price performance this year, according to Local Market Monitor, a North Carolina housing sector consultant... ”

“The Little Rock metropolitan statistical area is expected to have one of the best home-price performances among large markets in the coming year, while Fort Smith and Texarkana are expected to be among the best performing small markets, Local Market Monitor of Cary, N.C., announced on Tuesday...
”

“The list, released by Local Market Monitor, a Web-based producer of housing forecasts, placed the Tulsa area at No. 11. Oklahoma City was ninth. Carolyn Beggs, chief operating officer of Cary, N.C.-based Local Market Monitor, said the company expects home prices in the area to hold steady over the next year, while prices will drop 6.6 percent for the nation as a whole...
”

“...That's why Local Market Monitor's latest home price forecast ranked Lubbock among the top ten markets in the country for best expected performance in home price. The Lubbock market has steadily increased in the past few months, and the report expects it will continue to increase by at least 2% in the next year. The forecast predicts the housing market nationwide will drop 8%... ”

“...The company's Home Price Forecast puts Lafayette in the top 10 among communities with the best expected performance in home price, with predicted increases of at least 2 percent over the next 12 months...”

“...There's not going to be a quick snapback of demand and snapback in volume, and particularly there's not going to be the same kind of growth in prices that we've seen in so many markets in the last five years or so," he says. "I also believe there is a moderate chance that we're actually in a recession right now, and a recession that's driven by the fact that consumers don't have any money left...”

“...Get economic investment reports - Ingo Winzer is the president of the Local Market Monitor and a graduate of MIT. He’s a smart well respected guy who provides excellent National Review of Real Estate Markets reports for local real estate markets...”

“...According to Mr. Winzer, any market that's more than 30% overvalued is due for a correction. In the fall of 2003, only eight markets on the list of 152 fit that description; on this year's list, 37 did. Sure enough, price decreases are beginning to pop up in many of the markets that have shown up year after year as the most overvalued -- especially in Florida and California...”

“...The most recent boom now looks most like a bubble in markets that have shown up year after year as the most overvalued — especially in Florida and California, which account for 24 of the top 25 overvalued spots in this year's survey. Now those markets may be falling back to earth. According to Winzer, any market that's more than 30% overvalued is due for a correction...”

“...Winzer's calculations show that Las Vegas has an average home price of $296,500, well above the $231,000 average that he said economic fundamentals warrant. That means Las Vegas is 28 percent overpriced, in Winzer's view...”

“...The median home, however, is still overpriced by an average of more than 14 percent, Winzer judges, and homes in many markets are still way too high. This matters because those markets have much more potential for the kind of steep decline that could be disastrous for homeowners - and the local economy...”

“...Statistics compiled for Barron's by The Local Market Monitor, a Wellesley, Mass.-based consulting firm, show just how big a role can be played by investors. In Myrtle Beach, S.C., long a favorite vacation and retirement destination, investors owned a full 58% of properties in 2004, the last year with available data. Though Florida communities accounted for eight of the top 10 investor-owned hot spots, Wilmington, N.C., clocked in at 38%, Las Vegas at 26%, and Honolulu at 23%. The normal level is closer to 14%...”

“...Winzer considers real estate "very risky right now." And because the price run up has been so high he expects the adjustment period – where home prices stagnate as income catches up -- to take a very long time. Before they purchase a home, buyers better figure on scenario of many years of little or slow home-price appreciation. Counting on home price increases could be a big mistake...”

“...The local economy has a lot to do with it. You can generally say that markets with strong employment growth are going to have strong demand for housing, and, therefore, strong home prices. There are other markets where the economy has done poorly the last few years, where the market just doesn't support the prices...”

“...While most primary markets in the country might be up 3 or 4 percent in the past year, "many places in California and Florida might be up 10 to 15 percent or more," says Winzer. This frenzy, of course, isn't good news for housing affordability. Winzer crunches local income levels, then compares them with a market's median prices. By his calculations, Fort Lauderdale at $238,500 is now 36 percent overpriced, West Palm Beach at $262,300 is 29 percent too high, and Honolulu at $333,900 is 25 percent overpriced. Atlantic City/Cape May on the Jersey shore, at $299,800, is 56 percent above what it should be...”